A REASSESSMENT OF SPINAL STABILIZATION IN SEVERE CEREBRAL-PALSY

A homogenous population of 37 institutionalized patients with scoliosi s and severe cerebral palsy was evaluated to assess the impact of spin al stabilization on comfort, function, health, and ease of nursing car e. Through a prospective care-burden study, a 34-month retrospective a nalysis, and a healthcare worker questionnaire, 17 fused patients with a mean current scoliosis of 35 degrees were compared with 20 nonfused patients with a mean scoliosis of 76 degrees. No clinically significa nt differences were noted in pain or pulmonary medication utilization or therapy, decubiti, function, or time for daily care. Nevertheless, the majority of healthcare workers believed that the fused patients we re more comfortable.